Providing additional information to called parties

ABSTRACT

A system, method, and computer readable medium for providing additional information to called parties comprises receiving a call from a calling party, performing a lookup of information associated with the calling party in a database, receiving the information from the database, and forwarding the information to a called party. The system comprises at least one device for receiving a call from a calling party, and at least one database for storing information associated with the calling party, wherein the at least one device is operable to perform a lookup of information associated with the calling party in a database, receive the information from the database, and forward the information to a called party.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 11/974,983, filed Oct. 17, 2007, entitled “PROVIDING ADDITIONALINFORMATION TO CALLED PARTIES”, now issued U.S. Pat. No. 8,625,762,issued on Jan. 7, 2014, which claims the benefit of provisional U.S.Patent Application Ser. No. 60/934,407, filed Jun. 13, 2007, entitled“System, Method, and Computer Readable Medium for Providing EnhancedAutomatic Number Identification Functionality”, which is herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure is generally related to a communications network,and more particularly to providing additional information to calledparties in a communications network.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Automatic Number Identification (ANI) is a system utilized by telephonecompanies to identify the Directory Number (DN) of a calling subscriber.ANI serves a function similar to Caller ID, but may utilize differentunderlying technology. In addition, although Caller ID can be blocked byprefixing a call with *67, for example, ANI is (usually) impossible toblock. ANI was originally developed for telephone company billingpurposes and is now offered to commercial customers who may benefit fromknowing who is calling them. In addition, ANI is one of the coretechnologies behind the 911 emergency service.

In commercial applications, a user may have an integrated or extraneousdisplay affixed to a telephone. Such a display presents the ANI ortelephone number of the calling party. In addition, the display maypresent the caller's name or calling name, also known as CNAM.Typically, no other information is presented other than the callingparty telephone number and/or name. As such, what is needed is a system,method, and computer readable medium that can provide additionalinformation to called parties.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A method for providing additional information to a called party in acommunications network is provided. A call is received from a callingparty. A lookup of information relating to the calling party isperformed in a database based on an identifier of the calling party. Theinformation is provided to a called party if the information is locatedin the database.

A method for providing additional information to a called party in acommunications network is provided. In one embodiment, a call isreceived from a calling party. A lookup of information relating to thecalling party is performed in a database based on an identifier of thecalling party. The information is provided to a called party if theinformation is located in the database.

In an alternative embodiment, a call is received from a calling party. Alookup of information associated with the calling party is performed ina database. The information is received from the database. Theinformation is forwarded to a called party. The information may comprisea name of the calling party. A query is sent with the name to thedatabase. A determination is made as to whether the name is located inthe database. If the name is located in the database, informationassociated with the calling party is returned.

The call may also comprise a number of the called party and theinformation may comprise information intended for the called party. Aquery is sent with the number to the database. A determination is madeas to whether the information associated with the calling party isintended for the called party based on the number. If the information isintended for the called party, the information is returned. However, ifthe information is not intended for the called party, genericinformation is returned.

A system for providing additional information to a called party isprovided. The system comprises at least one device for receiving a callfrom a calling party, and at least one database for storing informationassociated with the calling party. The at least one device is operableto perform a lookup of information associated with the calling party ina database, receive the information from the database, and forward theinformation to a called party. The at least one device further comprisesat least one telephone wire port for receiving the call from the callingparty, at least one of an Ethernet port or a universal serial bus portfor receiving the information from the database, and at least one of awireless access port for forwarding the information to the called party.

A computer readable medium is provided that comprises instructions forperforming a lookup of information in a database relating to a callingparty based on an identifier of the calling party, providing theinformation to a called party if the information is located in a deviceof the called party, wherein the information comprises a name of thecalling party and informative and promotional information from a serviceprovider.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a system for providing additional information to calledparties in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 depicts a flowchart of a method or a computer readable medium forproviding additional information to called parties in accordance withone embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 depicts a flowchart of a method or a computer readable medium forproviding additional information in accordance with an alternativeembodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 4 depicts a system for providing additional information to calledparties in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides additional information to a called partyor called parties. In the context of the present disclosure, a callingparty is a party initiating or sending a call. A called party is a partyreceiving the call. Such a process is initiated when a calling partycontacts a called party wherein the calling party and the called partyeach use at least one electronic device and the called party is able toreceive ANI or Caller ID service and is able to display relatedinformation to such a service or to a related service. The at least oneelectronic device is at least one of a computer, a server, a wirelessphone, an Internet Protocol (IP) enabled phone, or a device that canreceive and/or transmit information. The computer readable medium (orsoftware) of the present invention is stored on and/or runs on at leastone of the above mentioned electronic devices.

FIG. 1 depicts a system 100 for providing additional information tocalled parties in accordance with one embodiment of the presentinvention. System 100 includes a device 102, which is able to sendinformation to a called party device 104. Called party device 104 may becommunicably coupled to device 102 via an RJ 11 (telephone wire) port ora wireless port 130 and is able to display information on a display 108.In this embodiment, the display 108 is integrated within device 102.However, display 108 may be implemented as a standalone device withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Further,the device 102 may be connected to the one or more displays via awireless connection.

In addition, device 102 may receive information from a plurality ofsources including public switched telephone network (PSTN) 110 whichincludes a central office 112 which is coupled to a calling party device114. The information may be received by a RJ11 (telephone wire) port 106of device 102. Other sources include a wireless network or data network(not shown) supporting other devices such as a computer or IP enabledphones. Currently, information received by device 102 may includetelephone number of the calling party and the calling party name (CNAM).However, no additional information is received from the calling party.

Aspects of the present invention provide additional information tocalled parties, such as called party device 104, by providing an abilityto retrieve calling party information from a CNAM database 116 and/orother database 118. CNAM database 116 and other database 118 compriseinformation relating to the calling party, for example, calling partyname, telephone number, messages, location, and other informationassociated with the calling party. When a calling party initiates a callusing calling party device 114, calling party device 114 sends anautomatic number identification (ANI) or other identifier of the callingparty to RJ11 (telephone wire) port 106 of device 102. An example ofanother identifier may include an IP address of the calling party device114 or a unique identifier of the calling party that can be received andtransmitted by the calling party device 114.

In response to receiving the ANI or other identifier, device 102 sends aquery for the calling party name to CNAM database 116 and/or otherdatabase 118. The query may be sent via the RJ45 (Ethernet) port or aUSB port 120 of device 102 to databases 116 or 118 via a directconnection or via a data network (not shown). Once the query isreceived, a lookup is performed in CNAM database 116 or other database118 for the calling party name. If the calling party name is found, theCNAM database 116 or other database 118 returns the calling party nameand additional information associated with the calling party to device102. Upon receiving the information, device 102 may display it ondisplay 108. In addition, device 102 may send the information to othercalled party devices, such as called party devices 104, 122, and 126, tobe contemporaneously displayed on displays 109, 124, and 128respectively. In this example, displays 109, 124, and 128 areimplemented as standalone devices. In other embodiments, the displays109, 124, and 128 can be communicably coupled to called party devices104, 122, and 126 or may be integrated with called party devices 104,122 and 126 without departing the spirit and scope of the presentdisclosure. The information may be sent from the RJ11 (telephone wire)port of device 102 or via wireless connection 130. However, if thecalling name is not found, a lookup is performed in other databases (notshown) to determine where the ANI or identifier of the calling party isstored. Once the ANI or identifier is located, the calling partyinformation may be provided to device 102.

Referring to FIG. 2, a flowchart of a method or computer readable mediumfor providing additional information to called parties is depicted inaccordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. In thisexample, process 200 may be implemented as instructions executed withindevice 102. Process 200 begins at step 202 with receiving an ANI oridentifier of the calling party from a calling party device. The ANI oridentifier may be received at an RJ11 or other port of device 102. Next,process 200 continues to step 204 to query CNAM database 116 or otherdatabase 118 for the calling party name based on the ANI or identifier.The query may be sent via RJ45, USB, or other port of device 102.Process 200 then continues to step 206 to determine if the calling partyname is found in the CNAM database 116 or other database 118. If thecalling party name is found in the database, process 200 continues tostep 208 to receive the calling party name and additional informationassociated with the calling party. The information may be received atRJ45, USB, or other port 120 of device 102. Process 200 then completesat step 212 to forward the calling party name and additional informationto other called party devices. The information may be forwarded from theRJ11 or other port of device 102 or via a wireless connection 130.

If the calling party name is not found in the database, process 200continues to step 210 to locate the ANI or identifier of the callingparty in other databases or locations. Process 200 then continues tostep 208 to receive the calling party name and additional informationassociated with the calling party and to step 212 to forward the callingparty name and additional information to other called party devices.

In addition to sending additional information to called parties, aspectsof the present invention may provide specific information to calledparties by providing the ability to retrieve information intended forthe called party from the CNAM database 116 or other database 118. Whenthe calling party initiates a call using calling party device 114, thecalling party device 114 sends the called number of the called partydevice to CNAM database 116 or other database 118. Upon receiving thecalled number of the called party device, a lookup is performed in theCNAM database 116 or other database 118 for additional informationintended for the called party based on the called number.

If additional information intended for the called party is found in theCNAM database 116 or other database 118, the CNAM database 116 or otherdatabase 118 returns the additional information specific to the callednumber to device 102. Upon receiving the information, device 102 maydisplay it on display 108. In addition, device 102 may send theinformation to other called party devices, such as called party devices104, 122, and 126, to be displayed on displays 109, 124 and 128respectively. The information may be sent from the RJ11 or other port ofthe device 102 or via a wireless connection 130. In this way, additionalinformation specific to a called party may be sent based on the callednumber. However, if called number is not found in the CNAM database 116or other database 118, the CNAM database 116 or other database 118 mayreturn a generic message to the device 102, which in turn sends it tocalled party devices 104, 122, and 126.

The additional information may be placed in the CNAM database 116, otherdatabase 118, or another location (not shown) accessible (eitherdirectly or indirectly) by the device 102, previous to, during, or afterthe calling party initiated call. Further, the additional informationmay be altered or appended to previous to, during, or after the callingparty initiated call. This additional information can be placed directlyby the entity controlling the databases 116, 118, or other location ordirectly by the entity providing the additional information.

Referring to FIG. 3, a flowchart of a method or computer readable mediumfor providing additional information is depicted in accordance with analternative embodiment of the present disclosure. In this example,process 300 may be implemented as instructions executing within device102. Process 300 begins at step 302 with receiving a called number fromthe calling party device 114. The called number may be received at theRJ11 or other port (not shown) of device 102. Next, process 302continues to step 304 to query a CNAM database or other database for thecalled number. The query may be sent via an RJ45, USB, or other port ofdevice 102.

Process 300 then continues to step 306 to determine if the additionalinformation intended for the called party is found based on the callednumber. If no additional information intended for the called party isfound based on the called number, process 300 continues to step 310 toreceive a generic message from the database and to step 312 to forwardthe generic message to other called party devices.

However if additional information intended for the called party is foundbased on the called number, process 300 continues to step 308 to receivethe additional information from the database. The information may bereceived at the RJ45, USB, or other port (not shown) of device 102.Process 300 then continues to step 312 to forward the additionalinformation to other called party devices. The information may beforwarded from the RJ11 or other port of device 102 or via a wirelessconnection such as wireless connection 130. In this way, informationspecific to or customized for a called party may be delivered based onthe called number.

In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, theadditional information intended for a called party may include alerts inresponse to an occurrence of an event. For example, a called party hasordered a refill of prescription from a pharmacy. When the prescriptionis ready for pickup, the pharmacy may initiate a call to the calledparty. In response, the CNAM database 116 or other database 118 mayreturn a message to device 102 intended for the called party. Themessage may indicate that the prescription is ready for pickup inaddition to the pharmacy's name and telephone number. Also, the messagemay include helpful information including directions to the pharmacy,operating hours of the pharmacy, allergic reactions to the prescription,web sites for additional information about the prescription and/or theaffliction the prescription is intending to solve, links to such websites that can be accessed directly from one or more of the displays,and coupons or codes for use with the prescription and/or for otheritems in the pharmacy that can be used in person and/or on-line.

Another alternative for additional information intended for a calledparty may include informative and promotional information from a serviceprovider. For example, a called party is subscribed to television cableservice from a cable company. The cable company may initiate a call uponissuance of a new bill to a called party. In response, the CNAM database116 or other database 118 may return a message to device 102 intendedfor the called party. The message may indicate that a bill is ready forreview in addition to the company's name and telephone number. Inaddition, the message may include promotional information, such astelevision shows that are scheduled for the evening or movies ready fororder by the called party.

Yet another alternative for additional information intended for a calledparty may include situational information from an emergency serviceprovider. For example, a tornado may be heading towards a called party.The emergency service provider, such as the police or fire department,may initiate a call to the device 102 which may be located at the calledparty's residence. In response, the CNAM database 116 or other database118 may return an emergency message to device 102 intended for thecalled party. The message may indicate that a tornado is heading towardsthe residence in addition to the emergency service provider's name andtelephone number. Also, the message may include the location and speedof the tornado based on the latest data and directions to nearby tornadoshelters or other information related to the event. Also, the types ofmessages sent from the CNAM database 116 or other database 118 may bebased on a seriousness of the situation. For example, a typical textmessage may be sent for less serious event while a text message inaddition to a message that causes an LED or other light source (notshown) to flash on the device 102 may be sent for an emergency event.The message may be delivered in the form of a message, text, sound,graphic, video, and the like.

In other embodiments, the calling party can also send a voice message orinitiate a live call to the called party before, during, or after theinformation is sent or received by the called party. For example, afterthe called party has received the information, the calling party cancall, send an email to, or mail the called party regarding additionalfeatures or services that can be provided to the called party when thecalled party visits the retail establishment (or other entity) or basedon the location of the called party. The device 102 also includesstorage that can store the received information as well as a poweradapter and/or a battery compartment that provides power to the device102.

Furthermore, the device 102 may be implemented as a standalone device oran integrated device with other called party devices. Alternatively, thedevice 102 may be implemented as a mobile device with functionalities ofboth device 102 and called party devices 104, 122, and 126. Referring toFIG. 4, a system 400 for providing additional information to calledparties is depicted in accordance with an alternative embodiment of thepresent disclosure. System 400 is similar to system 100 in FIG. 1,except that instead of device 102 being implemented as a standalonedevice. Device 102 is being implemented as a mobile phone 402, a smartphone 404, or a personal digital assistant (PDA) 406. To send andreceive information to and from CNAM database 116 or other database 118,one or more of mobile devices 402, 404, and 406 are wired or wirelesslycommunicably coupled to a service provider site 408, which is alsocommunicably coupled to databases 116 and 118 via a data network (notshown) and calling party device(s) 114 via PSTN 110.

In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, aspects ofthe present disclosure are provided within mobile devices 402, 404, and406. Thus, when calling party device 114 initiates a call to mobilesdevices 402, 404, or 406, the service provider site 408 forwards the ANIor identifier of the calling party to devices 402, 404, or 406. Thedevices send a query message (or similar message) to CNAM database 116or other database 118 via the service provider site 408. The querymessage may be sent by mobile devices using common wirelesscommunication protocols. In response to identifying the calling partyname, telephone number, or additional information intended for mobiledevices 402, 404, or 406, CNAM database 116 or other database 118returns the information to devices 402, 404, or 406 via the serviceprovider site 408 using wireless communication protocols. Upon receivingthe information, mobile devices 402, 404, or 406 may display theinformation to mobile users on displays or forward the information toother mobile devices or non-mobile devices (such as displays 109, 124,and 128) using wireless and wired communication protocols.

Although an exemplary embodiment of the system, method, and computerreadable medium of the present disclosure has been illustrated in theaccompanied drawings and described in the foregoing detaileddescription, it will be understood that the invention is not limited tothe embodiments disclosed, but is capable of numerous rearrangements,modifications, and substitutions without departing from the spirit andscope of the present disclosure as set forth and defined by thefollowing claims. For example, a greater or lesser numbers of elements,modules, hardware, software, and/or firmware can be used to provideadditional information to called parties without departing from thespirit and scope of the present invention. Also, the additionalinformation can be sent via at least one of a data network, theInternet, an Internet Protocol network, a wireless source, and a wiredsource and via a plurality of protocols. For example, the wirelessconnection between device 102 and other called party devices may beestablished via wireless protocols, such as TDMA, CDMA, 802.11b,802.11g, or other types of wireless protocols.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method, comprising: performing a lookup ofinformation relating to a calling party in a database; and providing theinformation to a called party when the information is located in thedatabase; wherein the performing the lookup of the information relatingto the calling party in the database comprises at least one of: sendinga query with a name of the calling party to the database, determiningwhen the name is located in the database, and providing the informationassociated with the calling party when the name is located in thedatabase; and sending a query with a number of the called party to thedatabase, determining when the information associated with the callingparty is intended for the called party based on the number, an providingthe information when the information is intended for the called party.2. A method, comprising: performing a lookup of information associatedwith a calling party in a database; receiving the information from thedatabase; and forwarding the information to a called party; wherein theperforming the lookup of the information related to the calling party inthe database comprises at least one of: sending a query with a name ofthe calling party to the database, determining when the name is locatedin the database, or providing the information associated with thecalling party when the name is located in the database; and sending aquery with a number of the called party to the database, determiningwhen the information associated with the calling party is intended forthe called party based on the number, and providing the information whenthe information is intended for the called party.
 3. The method of claim2 comprising receiving a call from a calling party.
 4. The method ofclaim 2, wherein the performing lookup of the information associatedwith the calling party in the database further comprises returninggeneric information when the information is not intended for the calledparty.
 5. The method of claim 3, wherein the receiving of the call fromthe calling party comprises receiving the call at a telephone wire portof a device.
 6. The method of claim 2, wherein the receiving of theinformation from the database comprises receiving the information at oneof an Ethernet port or a universal serial bus port of a device.
 7. Themethod of claim 2, wherein the forwarding of the information to thecalled party comprises forwarding the information from a device to thecalled party using a wireless communication protocol.
 8. The method ofclaim 2, wherein the information comprises an alert of an occurrence ofan event.
 9. The method of claim 2, wherein the information comprisesinformative and promotional information from a service provider.
 10. Themethod of claim 2, wherein the information comprises information of asituation from an emergency service provider, and wherein the forwardingcomprises forwarding the information to the called party based onseriousness of the situation.
 11. A system, comprising: at least onedevice configured to receive a call from a calling party; and at leastone database configured to store information associated with the callingparty, wherein the at least one device is configured to perform a lookupof information associated with the calling party in a database andforward the information to a called party; wherein the performing thelookup of the information relating to the calling party in the databasecomprises at least one of: sending a query with a name of calling partyto the database, determining when the name is located in the database,and providing the information associated with the calling party when thename is located the database; and sending a query with a number of thecalled party to the database, determining when the informationassociated with the party is intended for the called party based on thenumber, and providing the information when the information is intendedfor the called party.
 12. The system of claim 11, wherein the at leastone device further comprises at least one of: at least one telephonewire port configured to receive the call from the calling party; atleast one of an Ethernet port or a universal serial bus port configuredto receive information from the database; at least one of a wirelessaccess port configured to forward the information to the called party;and at least one mobile device.
 13. The system of claim 11, wherein theat least one database comprises a calling name database.
 14. Anon-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructionsconfigured to cause a processor to: perform a lookup of information in adatabase relating to a calling party; and provide the information to acalled party when the information is located in a device of the calledparty, wherein the information comprises a name of the calling party andone or more messages of the calling party; wherein the performing thelookup of the information relating to the calling party in the databasecomprises at least one of: sending a query with the name of the callingparty to the database, determining when the name is located in thedatabase, and providing the information associated with the callingparty when the name is located in the database; and sending a query withnumber of the calling party to the database, determining when theinformation associated with the calling party is intended for the calledparty based on the number, and providing the information when theinformation is intended for the called party.